The book is actually the second in a trilogy, Blackthorn Brothers, which I did not realize until I began reading it. It is by no means required to read the first book before proceeding, but I did get a bit tired of the characters referring unneccesarily to events from the previous book.

This second book focuses on the third and youngest Blackthorn brother, Robin “Puck” Goodfellow Blackthorn, as well as, Regina Hackett, daughter of a wealthy merchant. They meet at a scandelous masqurade from which Regina’s best friend and cousin is kidnapped. As with most romance stories, Puck is so taken with Regina that he agrees to put himself in danger in order to help find the snatched lady.

Overall the book is not bad. The plot was well-paced, the steamier scenes were not too chaste, (although, I could have had a little more oomph) and I enjoyed the characters. If I do happen across the other two books and it’s not too much trouble, I might read them, as well. All points to the positive, I probably would not outright recommend this book for its own sake. If someone aksed me very specifically, “What do you have in regency fiction romance that’s good?” then I would suggest this Michaels trilogy. However if someone just wanted a “good book,” I probably wouldn’t mention it.

Happy Monday everyone! On the first day of Valentines Week, my true love gave to me…

Books.

Well, what did you expect from a blog called Three Bluestockings?

I’m going to dive right in here with a recommendation of one of my favorite Romance authors. Everyone needs a little bit of “happily ever after” in their life, and the Romance genre guarantees just that. This may be why $1.36 billion was spent on Romance fiction sales in 2009 and why Romance fiction comprises the largest share of the consumer market in the publishing industry.*

I have stated before that I enjoy the genre, and I have to say that in general, I am a sucker for a love story. I’m always hoping that some kind of relationship will magically appear in, say, and action movie, because in my opinion, love makes any book or movie better.

In life, I tend to be a very practical person. I don’t sugar coat much and take things at face value most of the time. Though I have fantasies of winning the lottery and moving to a castle with servants and designer clothes at my beck and call, I’m very good at balancing my checkbook, coming to terms with the fact that I will never make a six figure salary, and knowing that I will never be a size four. I’ve had some hard knocks in my emotional past, and I’m aware that people will disappoint me, hurt me, and that I just have to get back on the horse if I want to get anywhere in life. I’ve thought a lot about my own personality and my reading habits, what with my passing interest in psychology, and know that my outlook on life has a direct influence on my entertainment ingestion. I gravitate towards stories with a happy ending, improbable romances, fantastical worlds, and true love. When I go to a movie or read a book, I want to indulge in escapism from the drudgery and banality of reality, where we are uncertain of whether or not we will get a happy ending. Romance novels provide all of this and simply make me happy, which is why I absolutely must recommend some historical Romances from one of my favorite authors in this genre, Julia Quinn.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I recommend a particular series from this author that follows the Bridgerton family, a brood of eight children of the late Viscount Bridgerton and his surviving wife Violet, and a truly entertaining bunch. There are eight novels, one for each sibling, and while each one has its own charm, together, the books are fantastic. Set in Regency England, the Bridgertons are an eccentric, affectionate, and quirky family that you just yearn to be a part of. Quinn mixes humor, romance, familial domestic scenes, poignant moments of triumph over emotional scars, and a bit of adventure to create a series of endearing characters and plots that keep you turning the page.

So, here is the series in reading order for your enjoyment:

The Duke and I

Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings and Daphne Bridgerton conspire to create a fake engagement to each other in order to get persistent debutants and a meddling mother off of their backs. Simon and Daphne of course end up falling for each other; add a tryst in a garden and a duel, and they end up in a marriage legitimizing their initial ruse. Simon has some emotional baggage that is not easily dispelled, and threatens to destroy his happiness with Daphne. In the end, they work together to heal childhood wounds and find they are deserving of love after all. By far this is my favorite book in the series, for the complexity of Simon’s character, the growth of the protagonists through the book, and for the way Simon and Daphne’s relationship smolders off the page. Yes, they smolder.

The Viscount Who Loved Me

The current Viscount Bridgerton, Anthony, the eldest of the brood, insists on marrying a woman he will not fall in love with in order to prevent complications in his self-predicted short life. Anthony thinks he chooses the perfect candidate from the year’s debutantes until he meets the Incomparable’s half-sister, Kate Sheffield. While trying to court one Sheffield woman, he ends up falling in love with Kate instead, and after finding themselves in a compromising and public position, they marry. Anthony is convinced he will not live past his 38th year, a conviction born from the trauma of losing his own father who was that very age upon his death. Kate helps Anthony overcome the grief of losing a parent and convinces him to live without the fear of a death sentence hanging over his head. Despite the serious themes, this book had two of the most hilarious scenes in the series, giving comic relief when needed.

An Offer From A Gentleman

In the tradition of Cinderella, Quinn tells the tale of Sophie Beckett, the illegitimate child of an Earl, raised alongside her two stepsisters. When the Earl dies, Sophie’s stepmother makes sure Sophie knows her place as a bastard by engaging her as a housemaid and thoroughly castigating her for any real or imagined troubles. Her true friends, the footmen and other maids, plot to send Sophie to a ball where she meets Benedict Bridgerton and where the two fall in love at first sight. After the ball and years of hardship following Sophie’s dismissal by her stepmother upon discovering the jaunt to the masquerade, Benedict meets his pined-for love again but does not recognize her as a maid in the country. Eventually he falls in love with Sophie again and reconciles the dividing pull to two supposedly different women and society’s impediments of class. Sophie is a tragic figure who’s strength and kindness are rewarded in the end. Benedict and Sophie’s story is sweet and tender, but may cause a tear or two to drop (that is, if you are sappy like me).

Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Penelope Featherington is the best friend of the fifth Bridgerton sibling, Eloise, who’s brother, Colin, she has been in love with since she was a young girl. Shy, timid, and saddled with an unappreciative and unaffectionate family, Penelope grows into herself while Colin travels the Continent, exploring exotic locales and making a reputation for himself. When he returns, he is surprised to find that his sister’s friend now captures his attention and that the girl that has always been right in front of him is truly something special. Colin and Penelope’s romance is slow and grows out of friendship, but eventually (and I mean eventually, because God it felt like forever when reading it) Colin realizes that he loves Penelope. A secret between them spices up the story and throws in a bit of society scandal, and Penelope is truly a delight; a spunky, opinionated woman hiding under a spinster’s horridly colored gown.

To Sir Phillip, With Love

After communicating via letters, Sir Phillip Crane decides to propose marriage to Eloise Bridgerton, who he thinks is a sensible and affable spinster desperate enough to accept his proposal. He suggests a visit to his country home to assess their compatibility, and on a whim, Eloise rides out alone in the dead of night to his estate to see what a life together might be like. As a guest in his home, Eloise finds out that Phillip is nothing in person like his charming letters, but is gruff, brooding, and undemonstrative toward his children. Did the word children surprise you? Well, it surprised Eloise too to find twins bent on thwarting their father’s plans to remarry. Phillip is haunted by the suicide of his wife and taken aback by Eloise’s open and sunny affect and her chatty personality. Although the book has a darker and more serious tone than its predecessor, it does include one of my favorite quotes from all of the books:

Eloise just stared at him. As long as she lived, she’d never understand men. She had four brothers, and quite frankly should have understood them better than most women, and maybe it had taken all of her twenty-eight years to come to this realization, but men were, quite simply, freaks.”

How true, Eloise, how true.

When He Was Wicked

When Francesca Bridgerton married John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin, she never imagined that she would be widowed so soon. The new Earl of Kilmartin, John’s cousin, Michael, is more than reluctant to take up the title, feeling grief, regret, and guilt for having loved his cousin’s bride from the moment they met. Michael abandons his family and flees to India. When he returns years later, he tries to do justice to the title he never wanted out of honor for his beloved cousin, and rekindles the friendship he once had with Francesca. Francesca eventually reciprocates Michael’s love, but the two must overcome guilt and grief before they can have the happiness they desire. By far, this is the most serious, and emotionally demanding books of the series, is far from lighthearted, but is beautifully and passionately written.

It’s In His Kiss

Hyacinth Bridgerton, my favorite of the eight Bridgertons, finally gets her own book! Outspoken, intelligent, and friends with the aged, but incredibly intimidating Lady Danbury, Hyacinth meets her match in Gareth St. Clair. When the two start to unravel a mystery concerning Gareth’s past, translating his Italian grandmother’s diary, Gareth begins to fall for the unconventional Hyacinth. With a return to the lighthearted, Quinn also weaves a bit of adventure and intrigue into the plot, involving jewels and a family secret. The characters are dynamic, and Lady Danbury makes a humorous, meddling sidekick.

On The Way to the Wedding

This final installment of the Bridgerton series gives us Gregory. Convinced he has found the woman he will marry in Hermione Watson, Gregory sets out on his courtship, with the help of Hermione’s friend Lucy Abernathy. Only, Lucy ends up falling in love with Gregory during their efforts to catch Hermione’s attention, and she fights her feelings for Gregory, since she is already engaged. When Gregory realizes that he is in love with Lucy, it may be too late since Lucy is determined to do the best thing for her family by marrying someone she does not love. It was a bittersweet read, with this being the last Bridgerton book.

On Friday night Sapphire and I trekked to Cambridge to hear Lauren Willig read from her latest installment of The Pink Carnation series, The Orchid Affair. Willig was just as charming and friendly as you would hope, coming from the creator of Eloise Kelly—modern day Harvard Grad student and lover of swashbuckling men in knee breeches. After meeting Willig (and getting my book signed) I decided I had to write about my love affair with The Pink Carnation series (with a small review of Orchid).

I bought The Secret History of the Pink Carnation in August of 2007. I needed a few books to entertain me on my flight to London for my semester abroad and the pretty pink cover and the tag line “Pride and Prejudice Lives On” caught my attention. Normally I avoid P&P, or any Austen variations for that matter, but this one didn’t recreate my favorite characters or continue their story. I’m not sure what I was expecting, since clearly Pride and Prejudice does not involve spies, but it was enough for me to make an impulse purchase. And I’m so glad I did!

The mix of modern characters and historic ones is refreshing. Both sets of characters are well-rounded, likable and humorous. Eloise’s escapades in London remind me of my time in England and I can now also relate to her flashbacks to Cambridge, MA. I love that Eloise isn’t perfect. She makes mistakes, cops to them and does it with a flair for fashion. The heroines of the historical part are very different from one another, but are still appealing, strong and bring history to life (with a healthy dose of romance and espionage). Granted, I’m pretty sure women in the Napoleonic era did not always act like Amy or Henrietta or Mary or Penelope. But, I love them anyway.

I was a little hesitant about the latest book. Firstly, Laura, the female protagonist, is a completely new character (maybe she was mentioned in passing in a previous book, but I don’t remember) and the male protagonist is unfamiliar to the reader as well. Previous books follow characters well established in the Pink World. The first book is about Lord Richard Selwick, the second about his sister (Henrietta) and friend (Miles). The third about his other friend (Geoff), the fourth about Geoff’s previous infatuation (Mary) and the fifth and sixth books are about Henrietta’s two best friends (Charlotte and Penelope, respectively). Finally, the seventh book features a character mentioned in every Pink Carnation book (Mr. Reginald “Turnip” Fitzhugh). So in this close-knit world, where do Laura and Andre fit in? Sure, there are some connections—Laura is an agent of the Pink Carnation and Lord Richard trained her in espionage, but the association isn’t as strong.

Anyway… Laura Grey is a governess by day, spy by night, cunningly deposited into the household of Fouche’s cousin and official in the French government, Andre Jaouen. Laura longs to break free of her monotonous existence as a governess and puts all her effort into the subterfuge, hoping that success in this mission will make her a permanent part of the Pink Carnation’s league. However, as she worms her way into the Jaouen family, she discovers that Andre may not be all that he claims.

The Orchid Affair captures all the fun and romance of the first few books, while still maintaining its hold on history. Andre Jaouen isn’t as dashing or romantic or rugged as Lord Richard, Geoff or Alex, but he is swoonworthy in his own way. I never thought I’d be attracted to a character with children, but his relationship with them is so sweetly and realistically written that I couldn’t help myself. At one point I wanted to enter the book and become Laura just so I could become a part of that family, and adopt cute little Pierre-Andre. (I was pleasantly surprised with Willig’s ability to write children, especially given some of the previous books steamy, yet tasteful, sex scenes. BTW, bring those back Lauren!)

Despite the somewhat mushy, Sound of Music feel, the spy action melded nicely. The romance, character development and spy plot all complemented each other in a way reminiscent of the first few books. For me, some of the other books relied too much on the action and made some scenes seem contrived or unrealistic. Other times, like in The Betrayal of the Blood Lily, the action, more specifically the intertwining of various armies and their spies, was just too confusing. I’ve even read Blood Lily two or three times and I’m still not entirely sure how the disagreements in India relate to the Pink Carnation and the French Revolution.

Overall, I found myself most pleasantly surprised. While I knew I would enjoy The Orchid Affair, I had some concerns. Previously the first three installments were my favorites of the series, but Orchid just might bump Emerald Ringout of the running for second place (the first book in a series is almost always my first favorite). I was also excited to see Augustus Whittlesby, my favorite flighty poet, make an appearance or two. And, lucky for me, I heard on Friday that Augustus will soon be getting his own book! Next January, come faster!

I’ve never thought of myself as a romantic. Mushy, lovey-dovey things make me uncomfortable and I never understood the appeal of Romeo and Juliet or Wuthering Heights (besides the beautiful writing). Instead, I want to reach inside the pages and shake some sense into these stupid people. And don’t even get me started on Twilight. So, I was surprised when I started Georgette Heyer’s The Talisman Ring and found myself identifying with Eustacie, the most romantically inclined heroine since Anne Shirley.

Eustacie longs for adventure and romance and wishes she had gone to the guillotine in France wearing white. She says to her cousin Sir Tristram, “But consider! You would be very sorry for a young girl in a tumbril, dressed all in white, pale, but quite unafraid, and not attending to the canaille at all…” (Heyer). See the similarities to Anne Shirley? Fantasizing about her death and how much everyone will miss her? Later Eustacie hatches a plan to run away and become a governess. Of course, the eldest son of the family, will fall in love with her and they will be married—after much initial discouragement from the son’s family. What’s romance without a little struggle?

Clearly the French Revolution is over and there aren’t any guillotines in the Boston area that I’m aware of. Nor do I plan on running away (although running to Mexico given the job market has some appeal). So why did I find myself relating to Eustacie? Recently, I too, have been subject to dramatic romantic daydreams.

Before going home this Christmas I imagined myself and a certain nameless boy from home having one, if not more, romantic evenings. I should probably back track here and fill you in on our history. I was (and still kind of am, but that is arguable) a shy person. In high school whenever I called said boy to invite him to group things (one-on-one dates were totally out of the question) I’d get super, super nervous. One day he even asked me if I had just come back from a run I was so out of breath! Well so continues our relationship, all through high school and college. Eventually it got to the point where we could hang out and I could hold a decent conversation, even if it was just the two of us. Then, last year on New Years a group of us all went out to a bar and towards the end of the night we started dancing and in my inebriated state telling him of my unrequited love seemed like the perfect next step. He was surprised (which in itself is surprising because everyone else knew) and then he kissed me.

As you probably guessed, said nameless boy and I did not, in fact, have any romantic moments this year. We were never alone together and last year was not mentioned. I generally don’t believe in long distance relationships, and was not expecting anything of the sort. Instead I wanted acknowledgement? Reassurance that it wasn’t a pity kiss? Some sort of understanding that he has similar feelings since he currently is, and probably always will be, one of the rulers to which I measure guys?

Well, just like Eustacie, when my current daydream crumbled I created a new one. I would meet a nice, attractive guy at the big New Years party, we’d share a midnight kiss and he’d fall madly in love with me… or at least we’d date for a while. I looked great, the party had a rockin’ theme—everything seemed to be in my favor. But, instead of stealing glances and flirting with the man of my dreams that night I ended up dancing with a guy who got a little too excited… if you know what I mean… and then kissing his friend (in my defense, I didn’t know the two were friends until overly-excited guy pulled me away from his friend).

Trashy, no? Not the picture perfect evening I had planned. I place the blame entirely on my stupid daydream. When I met each guy I knew neither was the one for me, but maybe, just maybe, it will work out with one of them. Because after the first dream crumbled, this one had to come true. Obviously, unlike Eustacie, my romantic fantasies did not come to fruition. Instead I ended up with two phone numbers I didn’t want and feelings of regret. Am I really that desperate?

Well no more! I now resolve to be more like Miss Sarah Thane, the other heroine of The Talisman Ring. A romantic who seeks her adventures through travel and new experiences. And hey, in her travels she found and fell in love with Sir Tristram. Perhaps one day I’ll find my Sir Tristram and if not, well, I’ll have had a hell of a lot of experiences.